A/N A big Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed this story. Your comments and feed back is appreciated and has encouraged me to continue despite work becoming so hectic that I had to put this little epic on the back burner. I have another fan fiction on the drawing board; however I will not be posting that one until it is finished. I have learnt my lesson about writing as I go along grin It's been fun, I've had a ball and I hope you enjoy the final two chapters. Cheers and Thanks again to everyone.

Disclaimer: The show NCIS and its characters do not belong to me. They are the property of Donald Bellisario, CBS, Paramount and whomever else I may have omitted

Chapter Nine

(1)

Jethro Gibbs sat at his desk and thought about the traitor in their midst, the rat in the ranks, the person so deeply involved in this mess, the one who was one of the masterminds behind this whole sordid mess, who had more to gain from Tony dying then surviving and who had more then likely either participated in the other killings or had them ordered.

He cast his eyes over Tony's desk and thought about the younger man, lying in the hospital, he was going to make it but it would take time for him to fully recover back to his old self again. He thought about Anita Johnson and her unborn child, he thought about how far and how deep this whole operation went. Coffee, he needed coffee and rubbing his hand over his face he stood and stretched, it had been a long night and he'd basically spent it in the one position.

'Morning Gibbs,' he looked up to see Kate walking in, McGee only a few steps behind her and he smiled to see that she carried three cups of coffee. 'Thought you might be able to use these,' she set down two of the steaming cups before walking over to her own desk. You were here all night weren't you,' it was a statement not a question.

Gibbs picked up one of the cups and took a sip nailing Kate with a look that said I'm the boss don't question me but the usual hardness was not there in his look this morning and Kate nodded. 'I wished you'd have let me stay as well,' was all she said.

'What good would that have done? We know who we just need enough proof to nail him and we just don't have it at present and he's covered his tracks too well. However, that having been said we will get him Kate, they all mess up in the end,' he sighed. 'And so has our man nobody is that perfect.'

Kate nodded she knew that what Gibbs was saying was true. She was about to say something else regarding the current situation when the elevator doors opened and Director Morrow stepped into the bullpen.

'Good morning all,' he nodded to the Agents who were already at their desks then walking over to Gibbs he handed him an envelope. 'This just arrived on my desk. I think you should read it,' he nodded to Kate and cast a glance at Tony's empty desk before shaking his head and walking out of the office.

Gibbs turned the letter over in his hand; it wasn't often that the Director ventured down to the bullpen, silently he opened the letter and took out the several sheets paper and ran his eyes over what was written there on this letter from Anita Johnson, this letter from the grave.

'What is it Gibbs?' Kate asked as he carefully folded the letter and put it back into the envelope.

'Kate, McGee we're going out.'

'Where are we going?'

'The hospital, we have to interview that woman.' He grabbed his second cup of coffee.

Kate nodded as she and McGee followed their boss to the elevator.

'So Gibbs you going to share what's in that letter,' Kate ventured to ask.

'Nothing that Tony hasn't already told us,' the reply was flat and gruff and he seemed to be focused on the elevator doors. 'Just more of the same but nothing to substantiate what the author has told us.'

'Well maybe we can get them to validate what they've written,' McGee suggested then shrunk back slightly at the look his boss gave him. 'Ok maybe not.'

'Not is right,' Gibbs sipped his coffee. 'Anita Johnson is dead.'

Kate frowned. 'Ok so she's named names in there' she nodded to the letter.

'Yes she has.'

'But we still have to prove it,' Kate muttered to herself.

'Exactly,' Gibbs growled his eyes hard as granite. 'And that is exactly what we're going to do before anyone else is hurt or killed.

McGee and Kate exchange glances behind Gibbs back both knowing that the rogue Agent was in for more trouble then he could have ever bargained for when he sold out and joined the band of criminals who were all about to take a very heavy fall indeed.

McGee now knew the full and true story, he also knew what Kate and Gibbs suspected and he finally felt as if he belonged, he was now a true part of the team just like Tony and Kate and he'd been pleased to know that Tony wasn't going to die. Even though DiNozzo gave him a lot of grief from time to time, when all was said and done the place just wouldn't have been the same without Tony.

(2)

'Piss off.'

'Charming,' Gibbs had no intention of going anywhere and sat beside the woman in the bed. 'Now why don't you tell us who you are, how you are connected to all this and why you tried to kill Tony

DiNozzo.'

'I don't have to tell you nothing Gibbs.'

'Oh but you do,' he gave her a hard look. 'You are already facing charges of attempted murder and I dare say when the men with whom you are associated find out that you failed in killing Agent DiNozzo then they'll come and take care of you just like they've taken care of every other screw up and loose end on this case.

Kate and McGee stood just behind their boss and the woman flicked her gaze from Gibbs to the pair before back to Gibbs with a defiant sneer. 'Like I said piss off I'm not afraid of you, any of you.'

'Oh it's not us you have to be afraid of,' he leaned close to her. "And I think you know that. Co-operate with us and maybe we can cut some sort of deal for you.'

'The woman on the bed gave him a hard look. "Two minutes, that's all I would have needed, two minutes and DiNozzo would have been dead for what he did and I would have been gone and justice would have been served.'

'Listen here lady,' Gibbs growled. 'I don't know what you think Agent DiNozzo is guilty of but he is the victim here and you and your merry band are the criminals have a lot to answer for. Now you can try to get a lesser sentence by co-operating with us or we can remove the guard from your door,' he stood and shrugged.

'I have no idea what you're talking about,' she hissed. 'As for DiNozzo's sins he killed my sons and my nephew.

Gibbs frowned. 'You're Cotter's mother,' he stood. 'Agent DiNozzo didn't kill Braden, nor was he responsible for what happened to your eldest son Martin in prison. As for Braden and Darren being murdered he was fighting for his own life in this very hospital after your son and nephew put him here. They were killed by the very men you are protecting because they didn't finish the job on Agent DiNozzo. Don't you understand that whoever these people are they are using you and hiding from you the fact that they're the ones who killed Braden?'

Vivian Cottell blinked as she lay there gazing up at Gibbs and his agents, her eyes welled with tears and her bottom lip began to tremble. It was all starting to make sense, the phone call telling her who had been responsible for harming Braden and how he was in hospital himself and that she could pose as his mother, the meeting with him in the dead of night. Oh God if she had succeeded would he have killed her as well? Yes she knew now that he would have, for an absolute fact that if she had succeeded in killing DiNozzo then she too would now be dead. 'Okay I tell you everything. Just one question what sort of deal are you offering?'

(3)

Tony was sitting propped up in bed and reading a book when Gibbs, Kate and McGee walked in. 'Hi Boss, Kate,' McGee,' he set the book aside. 'What's happening?'

'We're this close,' Gibbs held up is thumb and forefinger so close that they were almost touching. 'Tony we have new information and we're this close to nailing him.'

'Hey that's great boss who rolled over on them?'

'The woman who tried to kill you, turned out she's Cottell's mother and she was recruited by Jackson with a phoney story as to how you killed Braden and Darren.'

Tony nodded. 'What made Vince go bad like that Boss? Okay greed I know that but,' he rubbed a hand over his face. 'If I'd only seen it before, the way he took over the case because of my connection with Cottell and how the investigation went nowhere after I stepped aside. I should have seen it Boss. I should have picked up on it'

'In hindsight I should have as well Tony.' It was clear that Gibbs was furious with himself for not seeing Vince Jackson for what he really was, a bent and corrupt agent. 'If I had,' he thumped the bedside drawers.

'Hey boss, don't,' Tony shook his head. 'We can't change what has already happened but we can stop him from causing more harm. With what I heard Cottell and Collins saying and the testimony of Cottell's mother, well that should be enough to nail him and when we do we'll get the others because he won't take the fall on his own.'

Gibbs nodded just as his mobile, which he and failed to switch off rang, pulling the phone from his pocket he walked out of the room 'Yeah,' he answered as he disappeared.

'How are you feeling,' Kate asked as she went and sat down beside him.

'Sore and sorry,' he gave her a one of his trademark smiles. 'It's nearly over isn't it?'

'Yes Tony it's nearly over,' she assured him.

'You know I wouldn't want to be in Jackson's shoes when Gibbs gets a hold of him. Not for one minute,' Tony sighed and looked out the window. 'You know he was my first partner when I started here and I would have trusted him with my life and because of him I almost lost my life,' he turned back to Kate and McGee. 'We sure he's not onto the fact that we're onto him.'

'He thinks you're dying Tony,' he thinks that it's only a matter of flicking a switch and you'll be gone,' Kate sighed. 'You're no longer a danger to him, the only loose end is Mrs Cottell and we've had her moved to another hospital, so he can't get to her either.

Tony nodded. 'I just don't' hope he doesn't get away from us again.'

'He won't Tony,' Gibbs reappeared in the door way. 'Kate, McGee come on we have to head back to the office. We have someone involved in the whole operation who wants to talk to us, who wants to confess.'

'Who is it?' McGee asked.

'Terry Kennedy, he's Anita Johnson's mystery lover and the father of her baby. He works on the same base she did, an enlisted man so their relationship was taboo. Apparently he got a letter from Anita the same as we did and he's ready to talk, to name names including his commander Trent Daley and several others. He was pretty much bottom of the totem pole and Anita never knew of his involvement. Now he wants to make them pay for killing the woman he loved and his baby. He's waiting for us at,' he named a park in the area, 'so let's go,' he nodded goodbye to Tony then strode out of the room and down the corridor. Kate and McGee both said their own goodbyes before following their boss, all the pieces were finally falling into place and the light at end of this seemingly endless tunnel was finally getting bigger and brighter as they closed in on this ruthless band of felons.

(4)

Commander Trent Daley was hurriedly packing, he didn't care what Jackson was saying he could tell that everything had gone to hell and he wasn't about to wait around any longer, he was out of here with his cut and a little bit extra that he'd skimmed off the top. NCIS was getting to damn close and it didn't matter that the Cottell woman had basically taken DiNozzo out she had still been captured and it was only a matter of time before they got her to talk because she wouldn't go down on her own and he couldn't blame her for that.

Slamming the last of his bags shut he headed for the front door already envisioning himself sipping a fancy cocktail or nice cold beer in a nice safe tropical haven. No, he wasn't waiting around one moment longer, his bags were packed and his passage booked all he had to do was get out of here before the MPs and NCIS descended on him.

Throwing the last of his luggage into the back of the car he sighed with relief only a few more minutes that was all he needed, just a few more minutes and he would be on his way. Quickly he climbed into the vehicle, started her up and then activated the electronic garage door and what he saw in the rear view mirror almost made him sob in frustration,

Military Police vehicles blocked his path and he saw the same young agent who had interviewed him walk up the window and give him a smug look. 'Going somewhere Commander,' he asked as the Military Police moved in to make their arrest.

As they did their job, McGee pulled out his mobile phone and punched a speed dial waiting for his call to be answered. 'Kate, tell the Boss we got him,' was all he said when Todd answered then he turned and headed back to his vehicle. One down, one to go he thought to himself as he gunned the engine and headed back to base.

(5)

'Anita sent me that letter,' Petty Officer Terry Kennedy told Gibbs,' He'd told them his story when they'd met and he was now in NCIS interview room. 'I loved her and she was carrying my child but I didn't know that until this letter arrived. She was trying to flee when they killed her.'

'Who are they?' Gibbs asked

'Commander Daley and Special Agent Jackson,' there was no hesitation in the reply.

'And you know this how. Petty Officer Kennedy.'

'I was a part of the operation, that night while Brad and Darren were beating Special Agent DiNozzo half to death I was helping rob the supply store. We've also been running drugs as well Special Agent Gibbs, mainly medical type drugs. I had no idea until Anita sent me this letter that she was the one who had sent Agent DiNozzo there that night but she told me that in that letter how she had to do it and how she was now scared for her life and had to leave but how she wanted me to join her when she was settled someone safe.' He swallowed hard. 'If she'd have known that I was involved in this whole sordid mess I don't think she'd have made me the offer.'

Gibbs nodded. 'I understand that but how do you know that Daley and Jackson killed Anita.'

'Because I heard the Commander and Jackson talking about the fact that one loose end had been tired and that two more had to be taken care of, Jackson said he'd take care of that. He was so damn cocksure that he could cover the tracks so you never found out. I guess he never considered that Special Agent DiNozzo would survive his injuries and name his attackers. They never knew I heard their discussion or I would have been the next victim.'

'Why didn't you come to us sooner?' Gibbs tone was hard.

Petty Officer Kennedy shrugged.

'That's not an answer,' Gibbs told him.

'I know but what do you want me to say sir? I was greedy; I could only see the dollar signs that were dangled before my eyes. I didn't care who got hurt so long as I got what I wanted and didn't end up dead myself.'

'Yet they killed the woman you say you loved and you didn't do a damn thing about it,' Gibbs snorted in disgust. 'You could have come to us then you know.'

'I know,' Kennedy nodded. 'Don't you think I realise that.'

Gibbs just gave the younger man a look of disgust as he concluded the interview and left the room, Kate walking over to advise him that they had Daley and were bringing him in as well.

'Good,' Gibbs replied his eyes filled with a steely grim determination. 'Lets go round up the rest of them Kate.'

'Jackson is outside,' Kate told him. 'It looks like he's none the wiser that we're right onto him.'

'Then lets go get him,' Gibbs headed for the bullpen and looked across at Tony's desk where Vince Jackson had been working. It was empty and there was only a few other agents in the office. 'Where is Special Agent Jackson,' he asked Agent Lana Maitland.

'He said he was going to the hospital,' Lana replied. 'Said he wanted to say goodbye to Tony before they turned off the machines,' she frowned as Kate and Gibbs raced for the elevator. 'Well is there something wrong with that?' she called after the pair and then with a sigh she turned back to her computer and the case that she was currently working on.

'Damn it Gibbs he knows we're onto him,' Kate groaned in frustration. 'He's somehow worked out that we're onto him. Do you really think he's gone to the hospital?'

'Kate he's not stupid, he's cunning'

'I take that as a no'

'Look Kate if he does go to the hospital I left a gun with Tony for his own protection in just such a case. My gut tells me he hasn't gone to the hospital.'

'What I want to know is how he found out we were onto him.' Kate jumped into the passenger side of the car and buckled herself in tightly.

'We'll ask him when we catch him.'

'Ah what if we don't catch up with him Gibbs,' Kate ventured to enquire.

'We'll ask him when we catch up with him,' Gibbs ground out through clenched teeth as he gunned the engine and screeched out of the car park at great speed.

(6)

Vince Jackson wasn't surprised that Gibbs and the team were onto him, he hadn't really bought the story about DiNozzo and he cursed the fact that he hadn't gone in as Tony's brother and gotten the job done himself instead of recruiting Cottell's mother and having that stupid bitch botch the job. He also knew that she would have fingered him added to fact that they head Kennedy in custody meant that they were closing in and it was time for this particular bird to fly.

He had a one way ticket to paradise and they would never be able to touch him there, oh yes that was the beauty of it, he would be rolling in all this lovely money, so much more then he could have ever made in this thankless dead end job in three working lifetimes and he'd be way Scott free and untouchable leaving those other fools to take the fall. Yes it was over, and he'd fooled them all and won.

With just a one way ticket and only the bare essentials that he needed until arrived at his ultimate destination he headed for the airport and freedom, nothing was going to stop him now not even the might Jethro Gibbs,' he laughed as he put his foot to the floor even harder, he was home free and in his mind he was thinking about all that lovely money and how he was going to spend it all the beautiful babes it was going to entice his way.

He never heard the trucks air horn or even saw the heavy vehicle until it was way too late, the crunch of metal on metal sickening as the smaller vehicle literally crumpled beneath the impact of the larger, heavy vehicle also travelling at speed.

By the time the shaken truck driver was able to stop his vehicle there was very little left of Vince Jackson or his vehicle, yes it was all over and Vince Jackson had not been a winner, he'd lost everything including his life.

(7)

Gibbs and Kate stood and looked at the mangled wreckage in which Vince Jackson had died, it was over, this case was finally over but not the way they'd wanted it to be. The surviving members of the operation were now all under arrest and had been charged for a wide range of offences that they'd committed. However, the fact that Jackson was dead grated on Gibbs, he'd wanted him to face the music along with the rest of his fellow thieves and murderers but that was not going to happen now, and it had all been over quickly as well with Ducky advising that it was highly likely that Jackson had died on impact or fairly soon after.

'Come on Gibbs,' Kate said softly. 'Let's go and tell Tony that the case is closed shall we.'

Gibbs nodded taking one last glance at the mangled wreckage before they headed to the hospital to tell Tony that it was over and another case had been closed.